People are denied opportunities to succeed in academia because of discrimination. The mission of the Life Science Editors Foundation is to accelerate equity in science. To achieve our mission, we channel the diverse knowledge and expertise of the scientific community, including current and former journal editors, grant specialists, technical writers and researchers.

Board of Directors

  • Dr. Angela Andersen

    Dr. Angela Andersen

    Angela studied catalytic RNA during her PhD (University of Toronto), X-chromosome inactivation as a postdoc (UCSF), and epigenetics and cancer as a Research Associate (HCI, OMRF). She was a Journal Editor at Cell for almost four years and co-founded and co-runs Life Science Editors BV and Life Science Editors Foundation. Angela is the Co-Founder of LSEF and serves as the Co-Executive Director, Treasurer, and JEDI Award Program Manager.

  • Dr. Giovanna Guerrero-Medina

    Dr. Giovanna Guerrero-Medina

    Giovanna received her PhD in Neurobiology from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by work in science policy at the National Academies, the NIH, and the Van Andel Institute. Since 2012 she has been the Executive Director of Ciencia Puerto Rico. She is also the Director of the Yale Ciencia Initiative at Yale University School of Medicine and Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion of Yale’s Wu Tsai Institute. These positions allow her to lead programs to promote more inclusive academic environments. Her work is funded by grants from the NIH/NIGMS and the Science Sandbox of the Simons Foundation, among others.

  • Dr. Shawna Hiley

    Dr. Shawna Hiley

    Shawna was a Post Secondary Educator at Centennial College, Canada, and Scientific Editor at Life Science Editors. Currently, she is Scientific Editor and Communication Strategist at Caltech, with the Guttman Lab. Shawna also serves as a JEDI Award Program Manager.

  • Dr. Mandë Holford

    Dr. Mandë Holford

    Mandë received her PhD in protein chemistry from Rockefeller University followed by an interdisciplinary, NSF postdoctoral fellowship to study venomous snails at University of Utah, Paris Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and Max Delbruck Research Center. She is an Associate Professor at CUNY Hunter College and The CUNY Graduate Center, with scientific appointments at the American Museum of Natural History and Weill Cornell Medicine. Her lab studies how venom evolved in animals and identifies novel venom peptides for use in research and medicine. She cofounded the award-winning EdTech company Killer Snails, which uses computer games to teach K-12 science.

  • Dr. Helen Pickersgill

    Dr. Helen Pickersgill

    Helen studied cell biology during her PhD at the Paterson Institute in Manchester, UK, and gained postdoctoral experience in molecular and cancer biology at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, and the Whitehead Institute, U.S. She was a Journal Editor at Developmental Cell for a year, and then at Science for five years. She co-founded and co-runs Life Science Editors BV and co-founded Life Science Editors Foundation. Helen is the Co-Founder of LSEF and serves as Chairperson of the Board.

  • Dr. Alana Welm

    Dr. Alana Welm

    Alana received her PhD in Cell and molecular biology at Baylor College of Medicine followed by postdoctoral training in cancer biology at UCSF. She started her laboratory at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) in 2007, where her lab focuses on breast cancer metastasis. She is a Professor and Senior Director of Basic Science at HCI. Her lab is funded by grants from the NCI, DoD, and various foundations.

  • Dr. Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz

    Dr. Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz

    Magda received her PhD in developmental biology at Warsaw University followed by postdoctoral training on embryonic stem cells at the University of Cambridge. She is a Professor at the University of Cambridge (UK) and at the California Institute of Technology (USA). Magda studies how cells in the early mammalian embryo make decisions to drive proper development. Her lab is funded by grants from the National Institute of Health, Wellcome, European Research Council, and various foundations. Magda serves as Vice President of the Board for LSEF.

Team

  • Dr. Marie Bao

    Dr. Marie Bao

    Former Editor-in-Chief of Developmental Cell and a Leading Edge Editor at Cell. Currently the Director of Research Administration of the Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School.

  • Dr. Ilil Carmi

    Dr. Ilil Carmi

    Former Editor at Cell, Developmental Cell and supported other Cell Press journal teams as an Agile Editor. Currently a Research Development Strategist/Grant Writer at Stanford School of Medicine.

  • Picture of LSEF Volunteer Katy Claiborn

    Dr. Kathryn Claiborn

    Picture of LSEF Volunteer Katy Claiborn

    Dr. Kathryn Claiborn

    Former Editor at the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Currently a Senior Scientific Editor at Gladstone Institutes.
  • Dr. Stacie Dodgson

    Dr. Stacie Dodgson

    Former Cell Journal Editor, with a primary focus on genetics, genomics, and immunology. Currently Scientific Strategy Manager at the Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology

  • Dr. Carol Featherstone

    Dr. Carol Featherstone

    Former Journal Editor of Trends in Cell Biology. Currently Scientific Editor at Life Science Editors and at Plume Scientific Communication services.

  • Dr. Lauren Gonzalez

    Dr. Lauren Gonzalez

    Currently a Research Development Fellow in the Yale Genetics Department, CT, USA.

  • Dr. Caroline Hendry

    Dr. Caroline Hendry

    Former Journal Editor at Development. Currently the Scientific Director and Advisor to the Chair at Yale Department of Genetics.

  • Dr. Rosy Hosking

    Dr. Rosy Hosking

    Former Journal Editor, Cell. Currently member of the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research.

  • Picture of LSEF volunteer Susan Jones

    Dr. Susan Jones

    Picture of LSEF volunteer Susan Jones

    Dr. Susan Jones

    Former Senior Editor at Nature Biotechnology, Senior Research editor at PLOS Medicine, and Chief Editor at Nature Reviews Microbiology. Currently, Chief Editor at Nature Microbiology.

  • Dr. Milka Kostic

    Dr. Milka Kostic

    Former Editor-in-Chief at Structure and Cell Chemical Biology. Currently Program Director, Chemical Biology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Scientific Editor at Life Science Editors.

  • Dr. Sabbi Lall

    Dr. Sabbi Lall

    Sabbi studied Developmental Genetics as a graduate student (Oxford), and microRNA-mediated regulation as a postdoc (NYU). She was a Journal Editor for five years at Nature Publishing Group and five years at Cell Press, where she was the Editor-in-Chief of Cell Reports. She is a Scientific Editor with Life Science Editors BV and co-runs the Life Science Editors Foundation. Sabbi serves as the Co-Executive Director of LSEF and JEDI Awards Program Manager.

  • Dr. Connie Lee

    Dr. Connie Lee

    Former Journal Editor, Cell. Currently Associate Dean for Basic Science at the University of Chicago.

  • Dr. Christina Lilliehook

    Dr. Christina Lilliehook

    Former Journal Editor, Cell Stem Cell (Deputy Editor). Currently Scientific Editor at Life Science Editors and Senior Science Writer at RA Capital Management, L.P.

  • Dr. Robert Mahen

    Dr. Robert Mahen

    Currently an independent research fellow in the MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, UK and Language Editor and Scientific Writer, Life Science Editors.

  • Dr. Emilie Marcus

    Dr. Emilie Marcus

    Former Journal Editor, Cell (Editor-in-Chief, CEO Cell Press). Currently Executive Strategy Officer at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA.

  • Dr. Brandi Mattson

    Dr. Brandi Mattson

    Former Journal Editor, Neuron. Currently Strategy and Science Manager, Neurodegeneration Consortium.

  • Dr. Kristen Mueller

    Dr. Kristen Mueller

    Former Journal Editor, Science and Senior Director, Scientific Program of the Melanoma Research Alliance. Currently, VP, Autoimmune Arthritis Research at the Arthritis Foundation.

  • Dr. Becca Parker

    Dr. Becca Parker

    Currently, Medical Writer and Editor, ARUP Laboratories.

  • Dr. April Pawluk

    Dr. April Pawluk

    Former Journal Editor at Cell, Molecular Cell, Cell Reports. Currently, a Science Editor at Life Science Editors and the Scientific Publications Strategist at Arc Institute.

  • Picture of LSEF volunteer John Pham

    Dr. John Pham

    Picture of LSEF volunteer John Pham

    Dr. John Pham

    Previously, Journal Editor at Molecular Cell. Currently, Editor-in-Chief at Cell.

  • Picture of LSEF volunteer Josephine Rodriguez with her daughter

    Dr. Josephine Rodriguez

    Picture of LSEF volunteer Josephine Rodriguez with her daughter

    Dr. Josephine Rodriguez

    Associate Professor of Biology, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Wise, Virginia. Current PI of an NSF S-STEM and NSF ADVANCE project.

  • Picture of LSEF volunteer Aruni Senaratne

    Dr. Aruni P. Senaratne

    Picture of LSEF volunteer Aruni Senaratne

    Dr. Aruni P. Senaratne

    Currently, Scientific Writer and Editor at Institut Curie’s Research Center.

  • Picture of LSEF volunteer Diana Stafforini

    Dr. Diana Stafforini

    Picture of LSEF volunteer Diana Stafforini

    Dr. Diana Stafforini

    Associate Director at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, Grants Editor at Life Science Editors.

  • Dr. Li-Kuo Su

    Dr. Li-Kuo Su

    Former Editor-in-Chief at Cancer Cell. Currently Scientific Editor at Life Science Editors.

  • Dr. Matt Velinder

    Dr. Matt Velinder

    Previously, clinical genomics team leader at University of Utah and Language Editor at Life Science Editors. Currently, Director of Genomic Research at Metrodora Institute.

  • Picture of LSEF volunteer Usha Vivegananthan

    Dr. Usha Vivegananthan

    Picture of LSEF volunteer Usha Vivegananthan

    Dr. Usha Vivegananthan

    Academic Coordinator, Biotechnology Programs and Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Chemical and Environmental Technology, School of Engineering Technology, Mohawk College, Hamilton, Canada

  • Dr. Diana Walsh

    Dr. Diana Walsh

    Former Clinical Scientist with the National Health Service, UK. Currently a Language Editor and Scientific Writer at Life Science Editors.

  • Picture of LSEF volunteer Ellen Wilson

    Dr. Ellen Wilson

    Picture of LSEF volunteer Ellen Wilson

    Dr. Ellen Wilson

    Previously, Research Development (Director), Writer and Editor at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Currently, Scientific Editor with Life Science Editors.

  • Dr. Katrina Woolcock

    Dr. Katrina Woolcock

    Former Journal Editor at Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. Currently Scientific Editor at Life Science Editors.

Alumni

  • Dr. Valentina Greco

    Dr. Valentina Greco

    Former Secretary of the Board of Directors. Valentina is a Professor in the Genetics, Cell Biology and Dermatology Departments, and a member of the Yale Stem Cell Center and Yale Cancer Center at Yale University. She is on a mission to do good, collaborative science while promoting inclusivity within the scientific community, prioritizing mentoring of the lab’s trainees’ scientific growth, and striving to make science accessible to everyone. She has received many awards, including the 2021 International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Momentum Award, the 2019 NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, the 2019 Yale Postdoctoral Mentoring Award, the 2018 Yale Graduate Mentor Award in the Natural Sciences. She served on the Board of Directors of the Life Science Editors Foundation from 2020-2023, and was instrumental in our launch.